Weed burner apparatus for tractors



June 17, 1958 K. R. DAVISSON ETAL 2,839,047

WEED BURNER APPARATUS FOR TRACTORS Filed March 11, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet lFig;

Kenneth R. Davissan George R. Smith INVENTORS.

June 17, 1958 K. R. DAVISSON ET AL 2,839,047

' WEED BURNER APPARATUS FOR TRACTORS Filed March 11, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet2 Fig. /0

9/ Kenneth R Davisson George R. Smith I N V EN TORS.

June 17, 1958 K. R.'DAVISSON ETAL 2,839,047

WEED BURNER APPARATUS FOR TRACTORS Filed March 11, 1955 4- Sheets-Sheet3 Kehnefh R. Davisson George R. Smith IN V EN TORS- BY WW 3% n 17, 1958R. DAVISSON ETAL 2,839,047

WEED BURNER APPARATUS FOR TRACTORS Filed March 11, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 44 I /9 /9 i Fig-3 Kenneth R. Davisson United States Patent WEED BURNERAPPARATUS FOR TRACTORS Kenneth R. Davisson, Severance, and George R.Smith, Greeley, Colo.; said Davisson assignor to said Smith ApplicationMarch 11, 1955, Serial No. 493,734

1 Claim. (Cl. 126-2713) Our invention relates to improvements in weedburner apparatus for attachment to and transporting by a tractor todestroy weeds in fields and the like.

The primary object of our invention is to provide an oil burningapparatus for the above purpose in which a hollow boom having a terminalburner head on one end, and being connected at its other end to a blowerfor feeding air to the burner head for combustion purposes and blowingflame out of said head is mounted at a high elevation on the power liftof a tractor for transportation over fields and for raising and loweringof the apparatus according to operating requirements, the boom beingswingable laterally through a wide arc in burning weeds.

Another object is to provide, in such apparatus, for operating theblower and pumping liquid fuel to the burner head by operation of therear power take-off of the tractor.

Still another object is to provide a highly effective, economical andsafe burner head for vaporizing liquid fuel and directing a flamedownwardly from the boom to facilitate destroying weeds.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary view in side elevation of our improvedapparatus attached to the power lift of a tractor;

Figure 2 is a view in rear elevation of the apparatus detached, partsbeing shown in section and the fuel drum and its attaching meanseliminated;

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation also with the fuel drum and itsattachment means eliminated.

Figure 4 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken on the line5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in horizontal section taken onthe line 66 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 77 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a view in perspective of the boom and burner head detached;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary enlarged, exploded view of the boom and partsof the burner head;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical longitudinalsection of the burner head and boom; and

Figure 11 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 1111 ofFigure 10.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, according to our invention theoperating parts of the apparatus are mounted in a tower designatedgenerally by the numeral 1 and which is formed preferably of weldedtogether angle iron and other suitable bars.

The tower 1 comprises a generally rectangular base frame 3 adapted toextend rearwardly from the power lift of a tractor 5 and comprising apair of side bars 7 a pair of rear cross bars 9, a pair of forward crossbars 11 and a cross bar 13 intermediate the pairs of bars 9, 11. A pairof skeleton side frames 15 rising from the side bars 7 are connectedtogether by a pair of lower front and rear cross bars 17, a top channelbar 1 and a pair of front and rear cross bars 21 intermediate the topbar 19 and pair of bars 17. The frames 15 are braced by suitable frontand rear diagonal braces 16, 18.

The tower 1 is connected to the power lift of the tractor 5 for carryingthereby by the following means. The side bars 7 of the base frame 1 arepivoted at the root ends thereof as at 23 to the conventional side powerlift arms 25 of the tractor to extend rearwardly therefrom. Bars 27, 29connected by bolt and slot connections 31, 33 are pivoted at outer endsthereof, as at 35, 37 to the conventional power lift overload safetycontrol 39 and between front lugs 41 on the front cross bar 21 of theframes 15. The bars 27, 29 being above the power lift arms 25 hold thetower 1 upright during raising and lowering thereof by the power liftarms 25.

A blower 43 of the type having a top vertical discharge tube 45 issuitably mounted in upright elevated position in the tower 1 midwaybetween the side frame 15 on bars 47 cross connecting the pair of bars21 and with its shaft 49 extending longitudinally of the path of travelof the tower 1.

A step up drive between the rear power take-off shaft 51 of the tractor5 is provided comprising a large pulley wheel 53 running between thepair of cross bars 11 of the base frame 3 and fixed on a horizontalshaft 55 journaled in bearings 57 on said bars 11. A telescopicsectional shaft 59 universally jointed as at 53, 61 to the shaft 55 andto the rear power take-off shaft 61 of the tractor operatively connectssaid shaft 51 to the pulley 53. A belt 63 connects the pulley 53 to ahigher substantially smaller pulley 65 on a shaft 67 having bearings 69on the bars 17 and having a larger pulley '71 fast thereon connected bya belt 73 to a relatively smaller pulley 75 on a shaft 77 havingbearings 79 on the bars 17. A pulley 81 relatively larger than thepulley 75 and on the shaft 77 is connected by a belt 33 to a smallestpulley 85 on the blower shaft 49. As will now be seen a triple step updrive is provided between the power take-off shaft 51 and the blower 43.

The boom 87 comprises a tube 97 extending rearwardly from the tower 1above the blower 43, and having the burner head 91 presently describedon its rear end. The front end of the tube 97 is flexibly and rotatablyconnected to the blower discharge tube 45 for vertical and lateralswinging by means of the following. A flexible elbow pipe section 93 isattached at one end by a collar 95 to the front end of said tube 97 andis provided with a collar 98 on its other end having a circumferentialend flange 96 rotatably seating in a recessed circumferential flange 99on the upper end of said discharge tube 45. A keeper ring 101 overlyingthe flange 96 is bolted, as at 103, to the flange 99 to retain saidflange 96 in seated position. Means for rotating the collar 93 to swingthe tube 97, or boom 87 laterally comprises a segmental circumferentialfront flange 105 on said collar 98 to which is suitably fixed a lengthof sprocket chain 1117 meshing with a sprocket wheel 109 on a verticalboom rotating shaft 111. The shaft 111 is journaled at the front of thetower 1 in a lug 113 on the flange 99 and at its lower end in a lug 115on one of the before mentioned bars 21. A set collar 117 on the shaft111 seating on the lug 113 prevents downward sliding of the shaft 111 inthelugs. A hand wheel 119 is provided on the upper end of shaft 111 forrotating the same.

The burner head 91, best shown in Figures 8 to ll, comprises a pair ofinner and outer cylindrical pipe sections 121, 123 of like length"extending concentrically rearwardly from the rear endof the-tube-97- andspaced apart with suitably attached front and rear sealing rings 125,127 closing the space between said sections to-forrn therebetween anannular vaporizing chamber 127. Theinner pipe section 121 forms acombustion chamber 129 communicating with the tube 97 at and preferablyof slightly larger diameter. The rear end of the burner head 91 iswelded as at 131 on the tube 97. Gas discharge apertures 133 in the rearend portion of the inner pipe section 121 provide for gas passingfromth'e vaporizing chamber 127 into the combustion chamber for mixingwith air from the blower 43 and igniting in chamber 129 to discharge outof the rear end of the burner head 91.

A dished deflector plate 135 downwardly flaring edgewise is suitablyfixed, as by welding 137, to the rear end of said head 91 to directflame downwardly as it is blown 4 position and suspended in thatposition by the cable 175, spring 199 and chain- 201 and in whichit-ma-ybe swung laterally in a wide arc todestroy tall Weeds by rotatingthe collar 98 through manipulation of the hand wheel 119. By operationof the power lift of the tractor the entire apparatus may be raised orlowered as may be found desirable according to operating requirements.The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention: Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired'to limitthe inventionto the exact construction and operation sh'cwn'and'described, and accordingly allwsuitable modificationssand by theblower 43 out of the rear end of the combustion chamber 129.

A fuel delivery pipe 139 extends along the burner head i 91 and tube/9'7and communicates with the rear end of the vaporizing chamber 127 bya'terminal elbow 141. Another terminal elbow 143 onpipe 139 is connectedto a flexible pump discharge pipe 145 depending therefrom in the rear ofthe tower 1 and connected to the discharge side of a small pump 147mountedonthe before-mentioned cross bar 13 and to the shaft 149 of whichthe shaft 55 of the pulley 53 is operatively coupled as at 151 sothatthe pump 147 is driven by the power take-elf shaft 51.

A source of liquid fuel supply such as oil is provided in the form of 'adrum 153 seating on the rear pair of cross bars 9 of the base frame 3and which forms a rack for said drum on the rear'of the side frames 15.Wire fasteners 155 are secured at one end to one bar 9 of the pair andtrained around the drum 155with the other ends retained by nuts 157 innotched lugs 159 on the other bar 9 of the pair securely anchoring saiddrum 153 in place. A fuel feed line 161 preferably flexible is suitablyon said uprights and extending along said "section 93 on opposite sidesthereof with their other ends riveted, as at 173, to opposite sides ofthe beforementioned collar 95.

The boom 87 is suspended in upswung or lowered position bya cable 175having "one-end attached by a yoke 177 to the rear end portion of thetube 97 audits other end attached by a terminal coil spring 199 to achain 201 adapted to be attached at different points in its length to acatch 103 on the upper cross bar 19.

In operating the'described apparatus the boom 87 is lowered to lower theburner head 91 for heating as in a ground fire or the like; When saidhead 91'is properly heated and the pump 147 and blower 43 operating fuelpumped into thevaporizing a preheating chamber is v porized therein andissues into the combustionchamber to mix with'the air blown through thecombustion chamber 129 by the blower 43 and be ignited by the fire sothat flame is blown downwardly. out of the.bafile plate 135 fordestroying weeds. With the burner head thus operat ing the boom maybeswung, upwardly into any desired the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A weed burning apparatus adapted to be supported from the power lift ofa tractor having a power takeoff, said apparatus comprising a verticallydisposed skeletonized supporting frame adapted to be supported from thepower lift, a blower mounted on said frame, step up drive means for saidblower supported on saidffr'ame.

and adapted to be driven from the power take-off, an'

elongated tubular boom supported from said' frame and communicating withthe blower, said boom having a flexible portion therein adjacent theinner end thereof,- swivel means connecting the boom to the frame forpermitting swinging movement thereof about a vertical axis,

lift means interconnecting the upper end ofthejframe with the boom forraising-andlowering the boom, means associated With said swivelforrotating the boom about a verticalaxis, stabilizingmeans' mounted onsaid swivel means and extending upwardly alongside the flexible portionof the'boomfor preventing tilting movement of the boom about thelongitudinal axis thereof and maintain ing the boom in thersame verticalplane as theswivel means, a burner'head on the outer end' ofithe ,boomfor receiving combustion supporting air from the blower through thehollow boom, and fuel supply meanstmounted on said frame and boom forsupporting fuel to'the burner head, said fuel supplyjmeansincluding apump adapted to be driven from the power takeofffsaid swivel meansincluding a horizontal plate mounted onthe inner end of the boom, arecessed circumferential flang'e lon the discharge of the blowerrotatably receiving said plate,

saidstabilizing means including a pair of uprights disposed on oppositesides of the flexible portion of the boom and being rigid with the platefol-rotational. movement therewith, and a pair of bars 'pivotallyconnected. to the upper ends of the uprights and being connected'totheboom outwardly of the flexible portion, said means for rotating the.boomincluding a segment of'an annular flange mounted horizontally on saiduprights aboveithe plate, a length of sprocket chain rigid with'theperiphery of the annular. flange, a sprocket gear 'rotatably supportedon said" frame in meshing engagementwith the chain, and handle meansconnected tosaid gear for rotation thereof, said handle means beingdisposed for access by the operator of the tractor.

References Cited in the file of this patent- UNITED STATES PATENTS

